Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that efforts to protect the environment, forests, biodiversity and rivers must be continued without interruption to address Bangladesh’s long-standing ecological challenges.
Speaking on Friday, Rizwana said the interim government had amended existing laws and introduced new policies aimed at resolving environmental problems that have persisted for decades. She stressed that policy continuity was essential to ensure sustainable outcomes.
The adviser said the government was prioritising the strengthening of institutional capacity, alongside the development of information and monitoring systems to better address environmental degradation. Key challenges include industrial and household pollution, rising salinity, and the declining flow of river water, she added.
Rizwana made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of a three-day national conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and the Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN). The event is being held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Farmgate area.
Also serving as information and broadcasting adviser, Rizwana acknowledged that despite a nationwide ban on polythene bags introduced in 2002, enforcement has remained weak. She noted that while polythene use continues widely in kitchen markets, its use has been largely restricted in super-shops.
She said the government had enacted noise pollution control rules, empowering law enforcement agencies to penalise offenders. However, she emphasised that regulatory measures alone were not sufficient.
“People must come forward out of a sense of social responsibility to prevent environmental and noise pollution,” she said.
Rizwana also announced plans to restore the navigability of major rivers by removing waste and carrying out dredging operations. The initiative will focus on five rivers surrounding the capital—Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, Turag and Dhaleshwari—as well as eight rivers across the country’s eight divisions.
She said restoring river flow and reducing pollution were critical for improving urban living conditions and protecting ecosystems.
The conference’s inaugural session was presided over by BAPA President Professor Nur Mohammad Talukder. Among others, BAPA Vice Presidents Professor M Feroze Ahmed and Professor Dr Nazrul Islam also addressed the event.
